Im getting mine as a unlocked phone so I can use it with out switching my contracts, Im sure lots of other people will do the same.

Did you just want the iPhone for its iPod/media capabilities, or do you know of a way to enable a data plan to work with it? I understand WiFi would enable some of the net features, but you'd still be limited without scrolling voicemail or any of those types of features that are AT&T network specific.

I see possibilities for such a venture, but I'm curious what features would be enabled outside of the proscribed network.

And just how do you plan on getting an unlocked iphone? You do realize that not all of the features will work, if you use it on another network, don't you?

I remember when at&t was the only choice for any phone, now its only the only choice, for an iPhone....I hated them then, I'll hate them now, but at least I'll have an iPhone.

It's 10 days before we will supposedly be able to have one of these little gadgets in our hot little hands -- and so far I've heard nothing from AT&T or Apple about signing me up. Zip, Nada. I know nothing about the plan, the options, or the requirements. And I'm starting to suspect that there may be a reason for that. Why did AT&T collect this huge list of interested e-mail addresses, if they weren't going to market to it? Is it perhaps because they are scared to go public with the message? Is it because they know the package is going to be such a hard bullet to bite that they don't want anyone to know about it until they've actually gotten wowed by holding one of the shiny little trinkets in their hands? If that is their thinking, they are (we all are) in for a huge let down. Americans buy by the plan, not by the phone. They are not going to change their spots now. Not for AT&T, not for Apple. If the plan is to bend the bride over a barrel, you can bet the American consumer will run the other way, no matter how pretty the engagement ring.

my verizon contract is up. i'm tired of lugging both my treo and ipod around. if the iphone's plan is roughly competitive with the treo plan, i'll bite.

I'm switching from verizon. My contract is up in September, but I plan on waiting until the second iteration of the iPhone. Give me a little more HD space for just a little less $ (OK, just give me more space :)

Well, since apple makes these phones, i highly doubt they will be doing any "unlocking" before the agreed upon time frame with att is up. The phones will be sold only by ATT and Apple, it also makes one wonder how amazon is supposedly getting the iPhone, since no mention of sales outside the 2 companies listed above have been made public. Use of the phone "requires a 2 year contract with ATT". Also, you need to remember that the voicemail system wouldn't work on another carrier, neither would the data network feature, all you'd have is wifi and maybe calling, if apple didn't block that if you don't use a att sim card. Yea, buy an unlocked iPhone, in your imagination.

From what I understand the SIM on the iPhone is not accessible, so I doubt you could get an unlocked iPhone. Whether you can get one without a data plan, is unclear, but some things I was told by a rep at the local ATT store suggest you might--but he admitted he had no real knowledge, was just speculating.

I have no contractual obligation with ATT at the moment, so I'm hoping I can get the iPhone without a long term contract and that the data plan will be optional. Time will tell...

I really want an Mac PDA to replace my Win Mobile one. Phone capability and web browsing are of unclear benefit to me, since I take my laptop everywhere anyway and the places I can't use my laptop (e.g. while driving) aren't places I can use an iPhone either.

My 2 cents.

if AT&Tingular would upgrade the darn towers where i live. the GSM signals literally end about a mile from my house. sad thing is that there is an alltel tower less than a mile from my home, and it doesn't support digital carriers. /cry